Revolver loading device



July 12, 1960 J. A, HANLEY REVOLVER LOADING DEVICE INVENTOR.

HN A. HANLEY BY A FIG. 2

an M.

Filed Nov. 15, 1957 FIG.3

FIGS

- tent Patented July 12,1960

REVOLVER LOADING DEVICE John A. Hanley, Noroton, Conn; Margaretta C. Hanley executrix of said John A. Hanley, deceased, assignor of one-half to Albert J. Slimak, Stamford, Conn'.

, Filed Nov. 15, 1957, Set. No.69a7's7 '2 Claims. orn-s9) sists'inthe removal ofspent cartridge casings-from the cylinder of the revolver, the removal of charged cartridges from a belt carrier and the insertion of them one-at a time into the'revolver cylinder. This is a slow operation, particularly in gcritical-situ-ations, e.g., when an oificer of the 'law is engaged in-the performance of his duties. Prior art devices which have attempted to solve this problem have been flimsy, intricate, require manual dexterity and in some instances are completely impractical because the V assembly of the cartridges into a holder in preparation for use is manually difiicult and time consuming.

My invention is directed to improvements in cartridge loading devices of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent 402,424 issued to C. J. Ehbets. The device disclosed in this patent is flimsy and not free from the disadvantage of accidental release of the cartridges. The

device is also impractical from an economic view because the holder may not be reused. The reason for this lack of reuse is that the holder is very diflicult to recharge. I

However, my device may be reused time and time again and the reloading of the device with charged cartridges in preparation for reuse is easily accomplished and free from intricacies. My device is readily adaptable for use with conventional revolvers known as five or six shooters. Such revolvers, which are approved and used by law enforcement oflicers, contain cartridge cylinders which open out to the side of the pistol to facilitate the ejection of spent cartridge shells and the reloading of the cylinder.

An object of my invention is to provide a device for loading a revolver which is fast, dependable and safe.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved holder for cartridges which is the loading device.

A further object of my invention is to provide a new and useful cartridge holder which may be recharged for use again by a very simple operation.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the samebecomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein: I

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the holderbody partly in section showing the plunger and the spring;

Figure 2 is'a top view of the holder body without the plunger and the spring;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the holder bodywithout the plunger and the spring;

Figure 4 is a side view of a conventional revolver cylinder showing the propelling mechanism in part;

Figure 5 is a top view, of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a partial sectional view of the holder in place on a revolver cylinder and shows a released cartridge falling into position in the revolver cylinder.

portion 10, of the cartridge holder which is preferably circular in cross-section. The body portion may be rectangular, hexagonal or the like. The 'body portion 10 is preferably made of plastic or aluminum to provide a light and strong holder, but can be made of any suitable material. At the bottom of the body portion 10 there is v a reduction in the diameter of the body as indicated at 11. This is provided to clear projections on the pistol which may interfere with the operation of the device. At the top of 'thebody portion 10 is a recess 12. Around the outer periphery of the body are several cylindrical chambers, 13-13(14) asnclearly shown in Figure 2, running in Parallel spaced relationship from the top to the bottom of the body. 1 These chambers, 13-13(2) house the cartridges Mum-i1 the latter are released from the holder. Through the center of the body portion 10 is an opening 15 which runs from the top to the bottom of the body. This open as a stop for the springlfi. A plunger 19 is provided with two shoulder portions 20 and 2.1. The shoulder 20 cooperates with the recess 12 which acts as a seat for the shoulder 20. The shoulder 21 overlaps the cylindrical chambers 13-13(e) and this adds stability to the holding action as seen in Figure 1. At the bottom of the plunger 19 a suitable cap 22 is fastened thereto by fastening screw 23. This cap retains the spring 13 in operative relationship. The lip 24 as shown in Figures 1 and 3 acts as a stop for the movement of the plunger 19. The cap 22 engages the lip 24- and is seated therein to limit the movement of the plunger 19 as shown in Figure 6.

The edge of the cylindrical chambers 25 are slightly champered as shown in Figures 1 and 6 so that the cartridges will readily slip through the cylindrical chambers 13-13( e) when released. The chambers are slightly larger than the cartridge flange diameter 26 thus preventing any jamming once the cartridges begin to fall. The body 10 is made shorter than the cartridges 14 so that at least a portion of the bullets 27 protrude therefrom.

Figure 4 shows the cylinder portion 28 of the revolver and the propelling mechanism 29 of the cylinder. Figure 5 shows the cylinder chambers 13-13(e) which receive the cartridges 14 from the holder, and Figure 6 shows the relationship of the holder and the revolver cylinder when loading is taking place.

Having described the structure of the holder and the cylinder, reference is now made to Figure 1 for a description of the operation of the device. Referring to Figure 1, the cartridges 14 are loaded into the holder by inserting the flange ends into the cylindrical chambers 13-13(2). The shoulder 26 of the plunger 19 is arranged to displace the cartridge 14 laterally so that the flange 26 of the cartridge engages the outer wall of the holder 10 near the champered edge 25. The cylindrical chambers 13-'13 (e) are slightly larger than the cartridge flanges and the cartridge is cocked into a locked position. The spring 18 holds the shoulder 20- in place and shoulder 21 overlaps the cartridges thereby adding stability to the device.

The cartridges are securely held by the means described and the loaded holder may be carried and handled or even tossed about without danger of releasing the cartridges. The cartridges protrude from the holder beyond cap 22 to afford protection and safety from accidental release. The spring tension seating the plunger is suflicient to maintain the cartridges in a locked position.

When it is necessary to reload an empty revolver cylinder the device embodying myinvention is placed against revolver cylinders 13"-13(e) and the propelling mechanism *of the revolver cylinder contacts cap 22. A slight pressure of the holder 10 against the revolver cylinder 28 forces the plunger shoulder 20, normally in contact with the cartridge flange 26, from its seat thus releasingthe cartridges 1'4 and allowing-them to ran through the holder into the revolver cylinder 28. When the holder is removed from the revolver cylinder, the spring 18 returns the plunger to its neutral position and the holder may be reloaded as described. p

Thus I have provided a-device which is simple and economical to manufaomre, and which is adaptable to existing revolvers without in any way changing or impairing their mechanisms. The device may be quickly reloaded with charged cartridges in preparation for reuse quicklyv and easily. There are "few partsto wear out and the holder may be used repeatedly. It may be used to reload revolve 'r cylinders by a relatively simple procedure which is fast, dependable and safe.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what is claimed is:

1. A rechargeable cartridge loading device for loading cartridges directly into a revolver comprising in combination, a body portion having a plurality of annular cylindrical chambers open at each end and in parallel spaced relationship for housing the cartridges and a central chamher, a resiliently biased reciprocating plunger slidably mounted within said central chamber, said plunger provided with a shoulder portion at one end thereof for laterally displacing the cartridges so that the flange ends of the cartridges overlap the outer edges of the body portion around said cylindrical chambers whereby the cartridges are retained in said annular cylindrical chambers until said plunger is displaced by engagement with a revolver, thus allowing the cartridges to fall freely into the revolver. V I

2. The device according to claim 1 further defined in that said plunger is provided with a projecting shoulder which overlaps the cartridges at the flange end of the cartridges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 402,424 Ebbets Apr. 30, 1889 1,480,812 Baz-an Jan. 15, 192A 1,559,825 Wilson Nov. 3, 1925 1,964,171 Pflaume June 26, 1934 2,399,904 Baucum May 7, 1946 2,406,231 Lima Aug. 20, 1946 2,488,732 Lima Nov. 22, 1949 

